At the start of Coronavirus when we all moved church services online, the majority view was that we needed to preach shorter sermons (in fact our services overall were shorter). I agreed with this approach and followed it. I believe it was the right thing to do. You see, all the evidence seemed to point… Continue reading Why I started preaching longer sermons again
Posts
Learning from Steve Timmis and the Crowded House (The 31:8 Report)
I would like to draw your attention to the review that the churches safeguarding body, 31:8 carried out following the high profile accusations of bullying and abuse relating to their senior leader and Acts29 CEO Steve Timmis. News — The Crowded House Final+Report+-+The+Crowded+House+Learning+Review+-+October+2020.pdf (squarespace.com) I think it would be helpful for any church leadership team… Continue reading Learning from Steve Timmis and the Crowded House (The 31:8 Report)
The Accidental Church Planter (Part 2): The unexpected plant
It was a Saturday afternoon in early January and we had opened up the building for a half day of prayer. Towards the end, a cluster of people walked in. I knew two of them because they were regular attendees by now. They introduced us to the other couple. Jose and Patti were Mexican refugees… Continue reading The Accidental Church Planter (Part 2): The unexpected plant
In defence of safeguarding
In this month’s Evangelicals Now, John Benton, comparing Safeguarding policies to the controversy over VAR in football writes: Safeguarding in churches is of immense importance, both for the sake of children and adults. There have been too many people deeply damaged, not only by the more serious and criminal forms of abuse, but by mistreatment… Continue reading In defence of safeguarding
The Accidental Planter (part 1)
Back in 2011, we had a series of church members meetings and an way day to tackle the theme “Space to Grow”. The Chapel building holds about 100 people, we can get up to 120 in at a squeeze with some overspill into the foyer. In reality the true, comfortable capacity of the building is… Continue reading The Accidental Planter (part 1)
Coming with the clouds
For Starters Where is everything heading? – dream apocalyptic scenario then we have it. A plague running rife around the world, economic melt-down, ominous noises from Russia and a few rogue states with nuclear weapons. Throw climate change into the pot and the future looks bleak. A couple of decades ago, such factors would have… Continue reading Coming with the clouds
Isolation is a form of death
Early in the pandemic, I wrote an article called “There is more than one way to die.” I was concerned then and remain so today that in their desperation to prevent physical deaths from the virus, authorities would miss other deadly dangers. There are two strands to the point that there is more than one… Continue reading Isolation is a form of death
A suppressed virus will always return
It’s not just Britain then -and it probably isn’t just about a new mutation. Around the world, coun tries are bracing themselves for a third wave of Coronavirus. Today, the news attention has shifted focused form the South East of England to South Korea which is experiencing its own third wave of the virus. In… Continue reading A suppressed virus will always return
Jesus, Saviour
If 2020 has taught us one thing, it has been the meaning of “safety” and “being saved.” So often when I write or talk about Jesus as saviour, I have to explain what the word means because I am speaking to people who already live fairly safe and secure lives At this stage I’d normally… Continue reading Jesus, Saviour
Happy Christmas
Dear friends, readers and subscribers to faithroots, Sarah and I would like to wish everyone a merry Christmas. We arrive at the celebration in very strange times. However, we believe that the message of Christmas and the celebration of a birth 2000 years ago remains central to finding hope in dark days. The light shines… Continue reading Happy Christmas
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